Trailer



April 18, 1939- H. A. MUNGER` TRAILER Filed March 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l HENRYA-MUN6ER April '18, 1939.

H. A. MUNGER TRAILER I Filed March 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Siwa/Mm HEVRYMI/N/ER patented Apr. 1a, 1939 y y 2,154,467

` UNITEDl .STATES PATENT oFFicE 2,154.46; Henry A. Manger, Midland. Mich. Application March 4, 1938, Serial No. 193,977

Y s claims. (omas-23)' This invention relatesv to camp trailers and has Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the for its object the provision of a novel expansible framework' of the trailer, showing it fully extrailer which shall be light in weight, inexpensive panded and extended, with a tent ridge-pole to build, and simple to open and close when seterected thereon. .The view is taken along lines ting up and breaking camp. My novel construc- 3--3 of Fig. 4;,

tion lends itself to the building of a trailer which Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, taken is weather-tight and dust-proof when closed, and along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking toward the rear which ismodern and attractive in'appearance. of the trailer, which shows diagrammatically a The invention consists broadly of a trailer .dimode of erecting and supporting a tent thereon,

vided longitudinally into releasably joined halves, Fig. 5 is an lenlarged fragmentary top-plan 10 each half havinga wheel or wheels journaled and view, taken along line 5-5-of Fig. 1, of .a novel supported independently of the, other. The arrangement of the side frame members and the wheels of each .half are pivoted vertically for draw-bar of the trailer, movementto divergent position, and are oper- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary topplan view of the l5 ably 'connected to the draw-bar of the trailer front end of the trailer, showing the arrange- 15 by novel means so that'after releasing the halves ment of the draw-bar and'its'connection to the force applied to the draw-bar diverges the wheels Wheel-actuating linkage` and the trailer frame, or res-tores them to parallelism, and a short and movement of the trailer extends'the halves or Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken transversely 2o draws them together. A along line 1-1 of Fig. 6. y 20 A further featureof the invention is .a novel The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiarrangement of Y, the trailer' frame assembly, ment of the invention, consisting of a compact. whereby .alarge tent may be easily and quickly lightweight trailer having a two-wheel runerected and supported upon thetrailer and cerning gear.

tain extensible members thereof,- whereby a The trailer shown consists of a chassis l divid- 25 sheltered space much longer and wider-than the .Y ed longitudinally into halves which are separanormal area of the closed trailer is available. ble laterally to expand the trailer and make avail- Another advantageous feature of my new conable a clear ground and iloor space between them. struction is that the trailerhasavery low ,cen- The chassis l isa light-weight assembly comvter of gravityl as compared with the tent trailers prising a pair of tubular side members 2, shown in 30 .'of conventional construction. When the trailer this embodiment as curved laterally to provide a is 'opened all of the enclosed ground space is undesirable streamlined appearance. A framework obstructed by any running'gear or chassis e1e 0f -metal Straps 0r bars 3, arranged t0 Support ments and the beds are at convenient sitting bunk floors 4, is fixed' to eachside memberl 2.

height from the ground. Also, in contrast to The bunk floors 4 are shaped and formed to en- 35 earlier small camp trailers, beds are provided closethe under sid'e'of the trailer when the halves which may be kept made and need not be disare joined as in Fig. 2, and at their inner edges turbed when opening or closing the trailer. An they are ilangedand provided with co-operating ladditional advantage incident to the lower cen-v tongue-and-groove portions, or other sealing and 40 ter of gravity and the novel construction ofl theV locking means, to providea dust-.and water-tight 40 trailer is that it-lendsitself to safe and easily joint and mutual reinforcement of the losed accessible. stowage of camping equipment, and ,l halves.l Awheel 5 is yjournaled beneath .each half is adapted to carry a boat or canoe convenientlyr of the trailer assembly, .each wheel and its mountwithout imposing a top-heavy load upon the runing being independent oftheother,v Each wheel ning gear.` l y l Y ,l l u y l .5 is mounted forfpivotal movementabout a ver- 45 Other novel features `and vadvantages of the tical axis', wherebythey maybe turneddivergentinventinwill be apparentinthecourseof `the lylout 'of their lno1-.mal parallel relation. One following Aspeci-ilcation. In the accompanying r mode ,of so mounting and journaling the wheels drawings, whichshow' diagrammatically and is illustrated diagrammatically in the .'drawings.. speciiically La trailer according to the invention- Referring specially tov Figs.- 1,` 2, and 4, a unitary 50 Fig. l is'a cross-sectional side elevationof a axle andvkng Dini@ maybe, provided, Consisting trailer, taken along. line I-I of Fig. 2, of a bar bent tofprovide a `horizontal spindlea,

y, Fig..2 is a top vplan view, partly broken away, a vertical portionjb, and an .inwardly extending j "of the trailer of Fig. 1, with the cover elements horizontal lever arm 6c. The vertical king pin 6b removed, y of the axle issuitably ournaled beneath the 155 chassis, as for example, 'in a tubular housing 1 integral with a yoke 9 suitably riveted or welded to a chassis-frame member. A coil spring 8, in-

dicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, is fixed within the housing and is connected to the axle in loadsupporting relation by appropriate known means of anv desired kind.

The halves of the trailer are pivotally connected at their front ends by a common frame element consisting of or comprising a horizontal plate I 0 (see Figs. 1 and 3). Each tubular side member 2passes through one arm of a T-tting 2a, .the upright arm of which is pivotally secured to the lower end of a vertical spindle I I passing through and ilxed .to plate I0. The spindles II are preferably tubular to present a pair of stanchions to receive a tent frame element hereinafter described. Plates or castings IIa xed to the chassis frames 3 present sleeves journaled upon spindles II.

The side members 2 extend forwardly of pivots II and overlap. .l At their intersection each member 2 is interlocked with a draw-bar I2. A novel operative relationship between the side members and the draw-bar is provided at this point, whereby endwise disp1acement of the draw-bar relative to the trailer locks and unlocks the separable trailer halves. Draw-bar I2 conveniently consists of a T-'shaped member having a vertical web I2a. At its forward end the draw-bar is providedwith a suitable hitch for attachment to the towing vehicle. The draw-bar is connected to plate I0, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to be displaceable endwise thereof. The horizontal flange of the draw-bar is retained against the under side of plate I0 by a pair of lug-shaped longitudinal plates I6 spaced apart laterally to permit end A pass through aperture I4.

, abutment I5 has a mitered front edge which, when When the trailer is opened, as in Figs. 3 and 4, its halves are turned about their pivots II and the members 2 forward ofthe pivots move relatively to each other into the further overlapped the draw-bar is pulled forward. abuts against the vertical fin I3. Since towing urges the draw- Vbar to the right. the engagement of web I5 with then I3 of the draw-bar prevents displacement f Ilto unlock the trailer and expand the halves, rear- Through the upper half of the openis shown in the drawings. trailer a side wall portion .2i 'is iixedly mounted,

ward pressure (to the left in FigfZ) is applied to the draw-bar I2. 'I'he draw-bar is displaced rearwardly relative to plate I0 and side members 2 far enough so thatthe abutment plates I5 can pass through the elongated opening I4. The side membersl 2 can then pivot relative to the nose plate I0 into-the position shown in Fig. 3, with their forward ends displaced past each other through the opening in the draw-bar into the position shown on a. larger scale in Fig. 6.

Draw-bar I2 is operatively connected to wheels 5, so that upon endwise displacement it pivots the said wheels oppositely about their vertical axes to or from the divergent position 5 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Near its inner end the vertical web I2a of the draw-bar carries a pair of angle brackets I1 provided with pivot holes, each of which is connected by a pin I8 to a link I9 '(see Figs. 6 and 7). The opposite ends of links I9 are each pivoted 'to the extremities of horizontal lever arms 6c of the wheel axles 6.

Rearward displacement of the draw-bar as described above not only unlocks the halves of the chassis by permitting relative displacement of side members past each other and through opening I4, but also produces a rearward thrust upon connecting rods I 9 to turn lever arms 6c about their pivot points, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

To open the trailer the draw-bar I2 is thrust and shifted rearwardly, pivoting the wheels to their divergent positions. 'lhe length of the mitered abutment edges of stops I5 is such that the Wheels are fully divergent beforethe stops disengage the fm I3 of the draw-bar to pass through the aperture I4. The halves of the trailer are thus positively prevented from spreading until the wheels reach their maximum divergence. The draw-bar I2 reaches the-'rearward limitof its travel relative to the trailer, and

' engages suitable stop means. The backing thrust upon the draw-bar then moves the trailer to the rear, and wheels 5 draw their respective halves apart to their fully open position, as shown in Fig. 3. When the trailer is fully open, its further expansion is arrested by engagement of the lateral edges of stops I5 against the edge of fin I3 at the ;rear of aperture I4. Additional stops of any desired form may of course be provided to limit the opening travel of the halves of the trailer.

-When the trailer is to be closed for traveling, the abutment plates I5 and iin I3 co-operate to maintain the angular relationship o f the wheels until the halves are parallel and urged together. To close the halves, the trailer is drawn forward by draw-bar I2. The stop plates I5 extend through aperture I4, and their lateral edges engage fln I3 at the rear of the draw-bar luntil they have been completely withdrawn from the opening. Stops I5 are so located on side members 2 and their lateral edges are of such a length that they slip from the aperture and disengage the iin I3 only when the trailer halves are firmly together. The n I3 and draw-bar I2 are then free to move forward, restoring the wheels to parallelism. The wheels 5 are thus held from castering toward their normal position, while the trailer is being closed, insuring a firm complete engagement of the halves during a forward travel no longer than the backing movement' necessary lto extend them to fully open position.

Suitable covers are provided upon the chassis described. A vpreferred novel housing' assembly Upon each half of the of the'trailerf vAll ofthe .overelements may be 'stxaunped' from 'sheet metal, orinay' be made of '2,154,467 laion`g"i ;he top edge of whlcha movable cover. piece 22is secured by hinges 23 for raising toward 'v an upright position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4;', In closed position the'cover pieces 22 -overlapxL along their upper edges atthe center line ofthe trailer. This joint may be s'eale'dby 'Y a-sponge-rubbergasket strip or'other 'suitable' means.' 'Af'xed no sing 2`secured to or integral thplate i is` mounted Ito enclose the nfront 'fabri'c ystretched v"over ylightweight framing.

When -the trailer halveshave been expanded fftof open position. lis-,described above, `a tent is members.

'i o entirely around `the trailer, orthe wall of theA laterally, and withits horizontal'bar ground supports the rear end of the trailer and "A tent 29,-indicated.in i is stretched over 'thelcollapsibleridge and ,is secured at or lnear the-side member`s "2 by anys.' f desired meanss`uch asl snap fasteners, not shown:r The hinged'covers 22 maybe raised to axLv desired height and latched there by means not shown, so l that theyfspread and support the v.hips o f the tent 29; The

erected upon'the novel framework next described..

Extensionjrodsl 24 lproject vrearwardly of the side membersf2to supportthe'eaves of a tent longer "than thetrailer proper. vIn the example-shown' in the '.drawings,

"of tubes curved to the same radius "as thev tubular side members 2 of'the trailer., and aresmaller in diametersol as to'telescope' within said side 24, 25 are provided toreceive the ends of a U- shaped connecting member' and support 26...

When l the trailer is closed the U- member 26 is inserted in inverted position in thef'Tfttin'gs 25 and serves to hold the Arearfportionsoi' the trailer r `halves together.'

When the trailer is open and the extension side members. are Withdrawn to theirffull extent the"U -'r`ne`x`nber 26 is reversed and reinserted inthe T-ttings 25, in which position it, locks theextension members 24' together tent frame in a level position. Set up inV this wayit also denesthe threshold of the tentdoor.

-The upper end of a ridgel pole supported by a second Wishbone support 28a,fin serted in stanchi'ns H at the front of the trailer.

the tent mayhang from side members 2 and 24 tent may extend only 'along members 24. Inithe '4 `latter*c'ase inner walljcloth's "Il (seel Figi 2) are y"attached to thel inner edgesl and ends of the bunk,-

Aterminati ng-'at each sideof-the tent. I helatter wall cloths'remain dry in bad weather, and when- A'thetrailer is to be closed they can'be turned up over the'mattresses' and beddingon the bunks 4 P0' Di0tectthem if a`wet tent must be stowed away.' If the trailer is` 22' are provided, covered by hinged sheet-metal lids 82.

thev extension members 24 consist 'T-ttings of the rear ends of members f upon the i I The oppositebroken lines in Fig. .4f

y eaves of -tl'l'eI tent rearwardly of thetrailer l" fproper'are -fastenedalong'the extensionniembersp 24; as' by. sliding rings 3|. `The skirt or wall of-y r`.the wheelslwill beFpivoted/todiverge foutwardly' fdesuiiiciently long overali; 'storage space is an'crded at the rearendj of each bunk. A pair of dust-proof 1bins or compartments When the trailer" is 1' and 2. a 'secche'. inserted 'in stanchi member u'formingfgall end of a boat or'icgtv red camp sitifthe ment plates I5 -fthfside'meinber's 2 ifun'lockin'g v:the trailer halves anda their'vdiver'gent positions (seev 2),; Continued movement of the" traile'rfrgestheftyv 'halves apartv to their `operi"position,as abov deseribed. The extension sidefmenib'ers 24"arefthen drawn out and U-memb'r'ZB''is" inverted andf're'inserted in the yT-iitting's'2 5 at lthe end vof the' :Wishbones 21 and 28a are y nserted'in Viittir i g 's"2 5 and stanchions I I, -as' in ligV` 4.* nI "hejteiit*2S-'which has4 been stowed'A 'inside'the covers' place' overl the ridge pole is then r a f isec`i', l 2andi'tli'e ends' of the ridge pole are fittedl vinto'tlie"vis'hlriories. The

. 'edges of the tentare thenf'p'ulledoveifthe'covers 2| and 22' and securedflng yside members '2 and 24. The hin'gedffc'over members 2 2- arethen raised to theirfuilest'extent and secured 'in place;

@providing head roin'overthe' beds'andful'ly' extending the tent?? `'Wa'll-`c1oths 3i Aarejdropped vand `the bunks are then' clear 'ready for' ui se.` 1' When camp is broken, closing and'covering'the trailer an easy-reversal Yof theV above `described v"procedure. "f"- f' v Whenfthe trailer'isibeing'towedQthe orward pull upon the dratvlbar holds "fin I3-'b'et`ween the abutment platesfil-Sfon 'the's'ide'rnmbers; preventing separationloffthe twofliallvesofthe-trailer.

even though other locking rneans'iare omitted. or

,i f insertion of 1U-'member' ''26f y'irij'Tfittin'g's 25 should be forgottentif-The lever arm'sdof axle f member 6 likewise are continually/'drawnforward. so 'that the wheels arefr'etained' in. parallel alinement;

Aembodying my inventiongits speeiflcformI is illustrativeonly. andfvariousehan'ges v'and in odi'cations in its construction may'jbe'made without Ling .the trailer ahead; instead "ofbaekingfnto .the camp site. asgffaboveil described; f *In thisfcase vided to 'insure 1 against accidental* div'erlging.

movements of thelwheelswhileon the road; The trailer will be closed by backing fit-from" the camp site, butin its essntialfconstruction and yoperar't'ionit will otherwise' be; thesame the' preferied embodiment.above"deseribed. 5"* The extension rails 24 foriv the vside members of'the'trailer ma takeva'rious'formsf'n a low cost trailer the 'y simplybedemountable bars which are 'carried along side members. 2 when the trailer is closed, and which when ex- V l u ,2,154,4e7

tion, also, it may be desired to use straight side bars, or' other structural elements' in place of the curved tubular members shown.

Many) variations in the form of the tent supports andtent may also be made without departing from' the invention. The trailer shown may be constructed for slightly greater expansion.

and extension to substantially circular formin stead of to the elliptical outline shown in Fig. 3. In this case aV standard circular tent with a center pole may be erected, secured at its eaves ,over the sides of the trailer.

In applying the invention to a larger trailer than that shown, it may be desirable to provide v a second pivoted wheel in tandem behind each wheel 5, linked to it for coincidental pivoting in response to displacement of the draw-bar.

Other modificationsof the mechanical elements shown may also be made, as in the springing of the wheels, in the mechanism forv effecting their pivotal divergent movement, etc., within the'scope of the appended claims. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An expansible longitudinallyjdivided trailer their pivots to divergent positions, whereby rolling said trailer in one direction moves the halves apart into expanded position and rolling it in the opposite' direction draws the halves together.

2. An expansible longitudinally divided trailer comprising two'laterallyseparable halves, a wheel -journaled beneath each half and pivotallyv mounted for turning out of alinement with the longitudinal axis of the trailer, a draw-bar vward displacement of said draw-bar to 'permit mounted upon said trailer displaceable endwise relative thereto, land actuating mean-s connecting said draw-bar to said pivotally mounted wheels operable in response to ,rearward displacement v of said draw-'bar to pivot said wheels oppositely to rearwardly divergent positions, whereby rearward propulsion of said trailer rolls lits halves apart into expanded'position.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 2 having means on said trailer halves co-operating with said displaceable draw-bar. operable to hold said halves in closed position when the draw-bar` is in I its forward position, and releasable upon rearseparation ot the halvesto expanded position.

4. In a trailer yas claimed in-claim 1 wherein the two trailer halves are pivotally secured adjacent their forward ends to a 'common frame member so mounted that expansion of the trailer is effected by pivoting of. the halves about their forward ends into divergent position, and the I draw-,bar is displaceably ,connected to said-frame I member, in combination, a stop member fixedly mounted upon each trailer half ahead of itsI pivot point, and an abutment member on said drawbar positioned and adaptedfor engagement with said stop'members to prevent pivotal movement of their associated trailer halves when the drawbar is in its normal towing position, and movable .upon displacement of said draw-bar from said vnormalposition out of'engagement with said "stop members to permit pivoting of the trailer halves into expanded position. y

5. In a trailer as claimed in claim 1 wher the trailer halves are` pivoted adjacent their forward ends to a common frame member and the draw-bar is displaceably mounted upon said frame member, in combination abutment means iixedly mounted upon at least one of said trauer halves ahead of the pivot point thereof and a co-operative stop element upon said draw-bar, said vabutment means being formed and positioned so that pivotal movement of its trailer halt relative to said frame member and `draw-bar during opening of the trailer moves it into position for engagement with the said stop' element, whereby during closing of the trailer displacement of the draw-bar to its normal towing position and straightening of the wheelsv are prevented until the trailer halves have been brought 'toethen l 6. A trailer comprising longitudinal halves connected for lateral separation eachcontaining a bunk or' seat, independent wheels pivotally mounted beneath each half, and means for turning said wheels to divergent positions. so that rolling the trailer will separate the halves, whereby when the halves are opened unobstructed floor spaceis'affordd between said bunks.

7. In a trailer longitudinally divided into halves, having means for separating said halves laterally; in combination a rigid cover foreach half, said.v covers meeting along the :enter-line of the closed trailer, said covers hinged horizontally at their outer edges to their respective trailer halves so thatl when said halves are separated they may be lifted to an elevated position.

and a tent adapted for erection over the exl tended trailer, with its hips spread and supported by said covers and its eaves secured tothe t lateral edges of the trailer halves.

8. A trailer as claimed in claim 2, wherein dockingmeans actuated by said draw-bar is providedroperable during rearward shifting of the draw-bar torprevent separation of the halvesuntil thewheels have been pivoted to their fully divergent" positions, and wherein means is provided operable when the expanded trailer is' being closed to vprevent forward displacement of said draw-bar and straightening of the wheels before the closing operation is'completed.

9. In an expansible trailer divided longitudinally into halves pivotally connected at oneend and having independent wheels beneath the halves whereby the halves are separable divergently from their pivotally connected ends, in

combination, two extension side members formed and adaptedto be carried along either side of the trailerwhen the trailer is closed, and adapted when the trailer/is expanded to be fixed to and extend eonvergently rearwardly from the lateral edges of the trailer halves, and a U-shaped connecting member .adapted to be detachabiy sel cured to the outer ends of said extension 'memedges of said trailer halves and said extension4 members constitute aframe to spread and retain the eaves of a tent.

- HENRY LMUNGER 

